Take my Son off the Bench
By Pastor James
Recently, my pastor and others have been saying that we are at the 2-minute warning, especially in an election year and in the body of Christ. Although a 2-minute warning is mostly a sports term used in football, we need to see it as a spiritual term now.
In the early to late 80s, when watching the NFL on TV, a video of YOU MAKE THE CALL would play during the 2-minute warning commercial break. I believe this statement “You make the call” will ring true by the end of this podcast.
The most important thing about a 2-minute warning is that there is still time in the game to turn situations around and win. We need to buckle our chin straps tight and go after the opposition like never before. This is usually the most grueling and longest 2 minutes physically and mentally that we will play.
It’s time for us, warriors, to go into our playbook, the Bible, and strategically target the enemy and his weakness. We need special prayers for a pivotal time. It’s time to change our plays and our prayers because the ones we were using have us playing from behind. We need our best plays and our best players in the game. No holds barred. It’s time to leave it all on the field.
When I think about a 2-minute warning, it’s about making adjustments to get to victory. Every second counts as the clock ticks down. If you managed your game correctly, then you still have not only 2 minutes but also 3 timeouts to use to make adjustments.
In the natural world, you think of the best players when the game is on the line. At least I think of Montana, Brady, and Michael Jordan when it came down to a win-or-lose, do-or-die situation. These players would get the job done.
We have the greatest player ever to lead us to victory, Jesus Christ, who has never lost and continues to produce victory in our lives, even when the clock is ticking and every second counts.
While lying down in my room, I heard God speak to me and say, “Take my Son off the bench.” I replied, “What Lord?” and He stated again, “Take my Son off the bench.” Of course, I asked what He meant.
He explained that too many times, we take situations on our own by listening to other prophetic voices and sermons instead of getting into the Word. We are not relying on Jesus or His Word, so we have benched Him. We have spiritually benched Jesus and put other voices and teachings ahead of the Word. He is not in the game.
He has been put on the sidelines and made a bystander instead of activating Him and getting Him in the game. We have put others before Him. Jesus and the Word must always be the focus. God gave it to Moses written on stone tablets, “Thou shall have no Gods before Me!”
We, as believers, need to realize that not an election, a person, or situation, a pastor, or a prophet is going to lead us to victory in this time except Jesus. We need to change our game plan and focus on the one, Jesus, and no one else. The only true game changer.
If you want to lead this team to victory, get Jesus off the bench and get Him into the game.
God also shared that we are at our Kirk Gibson moment in the body of Christ. We have watched all the other players play for 9 innings, and we are still behind on the scoreboard. Now we are down to our last out. Who will you look to? There is one on the bench who can turn this game around with just one swing, and now is the time to get Jesus into the game.
Like Kirk Gibson, we as a body are hobbling to the plate, but with just one swing, Jesus can and will knock it out of the park, a game-winning home run, victory! While just minutes before hobbling to the plate when things were not looking good and all hope was fading, now rounding the bases victorious waiting to celebrate Jesus as He returns and reaches home.
So, I ask you this question, who will you rely on when the game is on the line? It’s time to get your lineup card and put Jesus in the game. Jesus is the one that can and has always kept us on the winning side.
The late Herb Brooks 1980 USA Hockey Coach gave a speech the night they played an invincible Russian hockey team that had never been defeated.
Of which I tweaked a little, to suit a Biblical message.
The late Herb Brooks, the 1980 USA Hockey Coach,
“Great moments are born from great opportunity. And that’s what you have here as believers. That’s what you’ve earned here, one moment in time. If we played ’em ten times, they might win nine. But not this time. Tonight, we praise Him, the Lord. Tonight, we pray them out, and we shut them down because we can! Tonight.”
Tonight, we are the greatest Warriors in the world.
You were born to be Warriors — every one of ya.
And you were meant to be here.
This is your time.
Their time — is done. It’s over.
I’m sick and tired of hearin’ about what the enemy is doing. WHATEVER!
This is your time!! Now go out there and take it!
So I ask you Warriors
DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES!!!!!
IT’S THE 2 Minute Warning!!
YOU MAKE THE CALL!!!
